Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of α-Cyanoketones to Enones Using Diaminomethylenemalononitrile Organocatalyst.

A diaminomethylenemalononitrile organocatalyst efficiently catalyzed the asymmetric conjugate addition of α-cyanoketones to vinyl ketones to give the corresponding 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds, which bear an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center with high enantioselectivities. This report is the first example of the asymmetric conjugate addition of α-cyanoketones to vinyl ketones using an organocatalyst.